The Washington critic., 1887-04-05
FORTY YEARS AGO.
A Poetic Reminisrencc of tho Postor-

a Poetic Reminiscencc of tho Postof-
flee Department In 1913.
IuiToR Critic: At this time (lsIs) the
nun Der Of clerks In the Postoillce D.part-
mcnt was not over fifty, exclusive Of the
Sixth Auditors Once, which Is a branch Of
the Treasury; and the names OF nearly all
will he iound in the following JIM desD,it,
the original Of which has at its head pen
drawings Of two large brooms. This relic
came under my eye few days ago, and
believing 1t might afford a little amusement
TO the readers Of THE Critic | obtained a
copy Of It for publication. II will be oh.
served that II was written soon after the
election Of President Taylor when the
clerks, most OF whom being Democrats,
were trembling In their shoes. All marked
with an asterisk are known to be
dead. This key may help to a
proper understanding of some of the
alluslons. Thus, Montgomery was from
North Carolina; Colonel Young had served
In the war Of 1872, and Captain Schwarz.
man, In the Florida war; Leech was de-
voted Methodist and Chauncey Smith a
confirmed tnlversalist; Laurenson wrote
Tor the Baltimore Sun under the nom de-
pi'mc of Mercury" and Towle was ply
sician; Mari and Laurie were good penmen:
'Ne'h "Hb bHNu ullD HIS IHftp
companions of the rhyme were equally IN.
dependent In their religion. Duudas had
gone TO farming johnson was the father
OF the present Superintendent OF the Mail
Equipment Division.
\ List ron 11E GUiLLoTfSE, AND THE REASONS
why.
Now Halter, he must walk the plank.
Because he's money In the bank
Montgomery must clear the track,
tui Rip Van Winh les coming back;
Ana Young and schwerlmln' need not
wait
see heroes como Of later date
And Lcocl anu thauncey smith, 'ts clear
Ne subject, sure, ui lnughterJ
The last for preaching tormonts here,
The former, ll-ll de'sofisr.
The rest must walk for reasons plain
lleSr what these are, aud don't complain;
lisswurm and Lumpkin, as expected,
For SAYING I, ass would he elected,
And heat and Bella happy par
For hui ding CASTLES In the air;
And Johnson II the hagsl, you know
Because he will not jump jim Grow:
ANA Bu!r' nnd Lacey. men OF means
Aud Rilcys shcchy' and Mcdonnell,
For voting oncc against U'ConnCl:
And l.anrcnson and Tnwlc, yon sec.
For their dear love of Mercury;
And Mari and l.auricF - scholars bright
Because they don't know how to write:
And Ecach' and Metcalf, VASE and AyrNs,
Because they stay 10 morning prayers;
Ard Hunter. Ievcly aud SNYDER
Because they do not like hard cider;
And kendall+, Hamilton and Elli,a,
with Fisher, Williams and young WallIcat;
One more, q, ,DrlrnF-numc their bctters.-
Because they NEEDLE with de I'd letters:
And Emmons, BuhrcrF-nind what passes
And Cot', Tor eating pork and lIsSps;
And SAUNDERS. Quicksnll' aud Dundas@,
Because the latter's "gonc To grass"
John smtht and Whttlescy~. you'll hnl,
For ardent love Of womankind;
And Martin, Dardent, Soule must ludge,
For saying to the wires, Fudge"
When news from Pennsylvania came
That put their figures all TO shame;
And Owner', he must pull up stakes
For making fun of buckwheat cakes
Another still, oh don't you cry
'l,is King, for writing poetry.
December, 1915.
Laurenson, Towle, Mari, Metcalf,
Ievely and King are known to be alive. 1t
would be interesting to learn II Russwurm
and l.umpkin, from Georgia, Snyder, soule
aud Emmons, from Pennsylvania, and Mar
lin and Ayers are also among the living.
Washington, April 4. SCRIBE.